Masako is a London-based embroidery artist, specialising in Hand Embroidery. She gained the Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery from Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace in England. Now she works for the RSN Embroidery Studio as a Studio Embroiderer. Masako was one of the luckiest embroiderers to be a part of the RSN team that helped Sarah Burton (Alexander McQueen) create the wedding dress, veil and shoes for the wedding of Catherine Middleton to Prince William on 29 April, 2011.
In 2023, the RSN Embroidery Studio team worked on nine pieces for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla: the King’s Robe of State; the Queen’s Robe of Estate; the Anointing Screen; the Stole Royal and Girdle; the Chairs of Estate and the Throne Chairs. Masako feels privileged and honoured to be part of the team. Meeting Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla is one of the highlights of Masako’s career.
Masako is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Broderers. The Broderers’ Company is one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London. Masako has been instrumental in organising The Broderers’ Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery, which was held at Bankside Gallery, London in 2022 and 2025. She enjoys being the exhibition coordinator as it gives her opportunities to promote and celebrate embroidery as fine art and to meet the fellow artists in the world.
Creating art is a vital element of Masako’s embroidery practice. She has been a Resident Artist at the Kew Art Studio.
In addition, Masako has been part of a group of volunteer needleworkers at St Paul’s Cathedral in London since 2015.
As a freelance embroiderer, Masako welcomes new commissions, and she also designs embroidery kits. If you are interested, please get in touch via Contact page.
As an embroiderer, Masako tries to take part in as many projects as possible. Here are some examples of projects she worked on.
RSN (Royal School of Needlework) related projects:
2011 Catherine Middleton’s Royal wedding dress [Designer: Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen]
2012 BBC Programme ‘The Manor Reborn’
2013 Red Carpet Green Dress – 007 Skyfall Naomie Harris’s dress at Oscar night [Designer: Michael Badger]
2013-2014 JoJo Cohen’s wedding dress [Designer: L’Wren Scott]
2015 Nicholas Oakwell couture gown for the GREAT Britain Campaign
2015 Cornelia Parker’s Magna Carta (An Embroidery)
2016 HBO’s Game of Thrones embroidery artwork to mark the release of Season 5 DVD
2017 Philip Colbert’s ‘Nude’ series for London Craft Week 2017
2017-2018 Vestments for Buckfast Abbey
2019-present RSN Stitch Bank
2021 A new canopy for the shrine of St Amphibalus at St Albans Cathedral
2022 Katie Paterson’s Evergreen
2023 A number of items for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, including The Queen’s Robe of Estate, the Anointing Screen and the Stole Royal
Other projects:
2009-2013 Guildford Embroidery
2012 A Gift of Quilt for London Olympic
2013-2015 Magna Carta Embroidery Runnymede
2015 Passion & Legacy project [Red Strand Design]
2017 Heritage Skills Festival [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]
2020 Barts Embroidery [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]
2022 The Broderers’ Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]
2023 Restoration of the tabards for the Heralds [College of Arms]
2025 The Broderers’ Exhibition: The Art of Embroidery [The Worshipful Company of Broderers]
